Night Patrol 2 Chapter 38
By Foxgear
“Ombre! Where is he? Where is my son?” Sombra demanded, limping through the halls of his castle. Disgust stained his regal muzzle, not disgust at his son, no it was at himself. One little nap. Just an hour or so to rest his eyes. Now his third son was back from the frontlines, injured no less. How feeble has he become? To allow such a thing to happen while he was asleep?
“In here, my lord.” An Equinox in a surgeon’s uniform called out.
Sombra made all haste for the room indicated. Inside rested his third son on a bed double his size. Four mares lay on their bellies beside it with collars around their necks. Ombre’s concubines. The four whimpered upon seeing him and moved out of the way against the wall. A nurse tended to his son, who was missing his left foreleg. A string of fresh stitches lined Ombre’s belly. Making Sombra’s guilt deepen.
The stub of the severed leg bubbled with black ooze dripping to a bucket beside the bed. Sombra stood at his son’ side, Ombre’s face flush with alcohol. He turned to the nurse who bowed and returned to her duties of cleaning his son’s leg.
“Do we have the missing limb?”
The nurse shook her head. “From the report of those that carried him here, his leg was crushed by the one who severed it. Even if we had acquired it, it probably wouldn’t have been fit to reattach. We gave him one hundred proof whiskey to numb the pain for now. Once he rests for a while, we should be able to cast a regeneration spell to regrow his leg.”
A soft growl filled the room. The nurse wanting to keep her health stepped away from her king. She dared not speak lest she incurs Sombra’s fury by proximity.
“Who did this? Who did this to my son?”
The nurse blinked sweating nervously as her king’s growling eyes turned on her. “I’m afraid I don’t know those details milord. The soldiers that brought him are downstairs at the gate. They should be able to provide answers.”
“Very well,” Sombra seethed, struggling to regain his composure. Adjusting the collar of his cape, he nodded gracefully and accused himself from the room. The nurse breathed a deep sigh of relief, her knees shaking uncontrollably as she collapsed to her belly when the door slammed shut.
The nurse looked at the four collared mares and smiled with sympathy as she levitated several needles and injected the contents into her charge’s leg. “I’m sorry girls, but he’s going to be very excited when he wakes up, one leg short or not. Be sure not let him get too wild.”
The four quivered as she hastily made her way out of the room, lest she be pulled into the prince’s activates when he awakens.
Halfway to the front gate, Sombra was anxious, feeling to troubled to simply sit on his throne and call the soldiers in question before him. When he touched the bottom step, a vibration shook the castle. His teeth rattled from the shockwave as brick and mortar assaulted the inner wall of the castle. Casting a barrier spell, he stepped out to the courtyard. His guards scrambling, calling for aid as several more cannon shots blasted his outer wall. Three guards flew off the top and died when they hit the ground, the falling rubble making sure for good measure.
As he limped to see what was causing all this destruction a loud noise he had never heard before roared over the panic and then faded away, his guards giving chase. Leaving him alone with a few stragglers who were still catching their bearings.
“You there, what’s going on?”
“My liege!” The guard hopped to his feet only to fall back down, his back leg in a twisted mess of flesh. “I’m sorry, I’ll…”
“Be at ease.” Soothed Sombra casting a numbing pain spell on the guard. “Report calmly and precisely what happened.”
The guard nodded, at ease now that his pain was no more than a throbbing pain in the back of his mind. He reported a new Equestrian war machine. A self-propelled carriage with a metal shell and a cannon. Sombra could only lament as the Equestrians engineered another death machine against him.
“Bring me reports from the front. I want to know everything. Assign somepony else, somepony able, you earned your rest soldier.”
The guard bowed. “Thank you, my liege.”
“A doctor will fix you up, and I will personally ensure a mare will be waiting for you afterward.”
“I am most grateful; you are a kind king.”
Satisfied with his current course of actions. Sombra began his journey back to the throne room. If he were to be active in this campaign, he would need to be where every pony could find him.
“My, my what happened here? Oh, father! What are you doing here?”
Sombra turned to greet his oldest and youngest daughters. Zil carrying a pink mare on her back ran up to him and hugged him. She smiled and presented the pony on her back to him. Dropping the unconscious pony to the ground. Needless to say, the mare’s appearance caught him off guard.
“This is the rumored third alicorn?” He asked, poking the pink pony’s horn and wings to ensure their authenticity. From what he could feel they were real. A true alicorn lay on the ground before him, his daughter looked delighted with herself. No doubt. She had captured her.
“Indeed, it is. If the Princess of Love had just a little more battle experience, she might have bested me. I can attest her power is real.” Zil replied with a curtsy. “Skaggi is holding her guard, a thestral, she’s taken a liking to her if you know what I mean.”
His youngest daughter and child, Skaggi, approached with the bat mare held tight in her lanky leg. The bat was unconscious, but still alive despite being choked. From under her hood, Skaggi’s bright red eyes shined like sparkling rubies, pleading and begging.
“You can have her, but get her processed first with Cien. Zil and I must speak.”
“Ok, daddy,” Skaggi muttered softly, Sombra shivered as his youngest’s consistently cold coat touched his, but he endured ruffling her mane through her hood before sending her off.
“Have Gleam and Tundra help you,” He called after her. Skaggi briefly waved, indicating she heard him.
“So…” Zil began standing beside him, balancing on the tips of her toes. “What becomes of Princess Pink here?”
“Get her collared and bound, and presentable first and then we’ll talk about that,” Sombra instructed beginning to make his way back inside. He paused at the entrance looking back at his oldest daughter’s pout as she picked the alicorn princess off the ground. “I will make a note of your efforts. You will be rewarded.”
Zil bowed. “Thank you, father.”
Cien sat at her desk, giggling mischievously to herself as she scribbled her deepest and utmost fantasies onto the blank page. No, it wasn’t a dairy, and it wasn’t her next novel either, it was merely her story notes. Ideas of a most perverse nature flowed through her quill; she was practically drooling at all she wanted to subject Twilight Sparkle too.
“She’s so sweet and innocent…” She gushed lovingly. “I want to completely destroy her in every way. Mentally, emotionally, physically, ooh, I can just imagine the contortions her face will make before coming a blank slate of hopelessness. A tragic heroine is the best heroine.” Cien giggled, anxious to begin her next novel, but first, she needed Twilight to make the first choice in her little mind game.
(I really hope she decides to sleep with that Rinin. Just to spite Ombre, I hate how he indulges in his prizes, it’s so dull. I question if we're related, he doesn’t do anything that twisted, he just has orgies. Twilight is unique; she deserves to be treated much worse. She is my new heroine, after all.)
A knock interrupted her twist parade of thoughts. “Come in.” She droned, knowing she had to do her official duty. How in the hell did she get saddled with processing her brothers’ female captives? (I guess I do have a good sense of fashion. I should look at this more positively. I get a new toy to dress up!)
When the door opened, Cien was surprised to see her older sister Zil with a pink female on her back. “Got another one for you,” Zil stated, dropping the mare on the bed. “She’s a special one too. Ever played dress up with an alicorn?”
Cien was speechless her eyes gazing over the alicorn’s entire body. A wide devious grin spread across her lips; her eyes hungry as she looked at the one in a lifetime chance before her. “No dear sister, I haven’t. Whose she for?”
“Don’t know. Cadence is her name, I caught her, but I don’t know if I’ll get to keep her.” Zil lamented. “It sucks the boys get the first pick.”
“Yes, well they do have the equipment to put these sows to good use. As much as I love playing with them, it is a waste, and you know how dad is about waste.”
“Of course, I am. Unlike you, I’m actually expected to do things. How I envy your freedom sister.”
“I have restrictions of my own, Zil.” Cien countered as she fitted Cadence with her bonds. Just to be safe, she placed double the amount of magic suppression, control, and restraints. The Princess of Love was sporting eight magic restricting shackles on her legs, two truth rings on her tail, two magic sealing rings on her horn, and clamps were placed on her wings to keep them being unfurled. “Better add two command neckless too.”
Zil observed the bonded Princess with a snicker.
“What is so funny, sister?”
“She looks like Bondage Gimp.”
Cien took a second look and laughed. “I suppose Father won’t find that ‘proper’ better find her a dress. Be a dear and wake her up.”
“With pleasure.” Zil’s horn flashed the gems on the collar activated.
Cadence awoke with a start as a magic rope, pulled her head back while her collars choked her. She reached for her throat, but the bonds on her legs activated and clamped her hooves together. She fell in a tangled mess of her own limps to the floor. Eyes wide with panic as her oxygen was still being restricted. Zil rested on her belly, looking her in the eyes with a smirk.
“I bet you wish I killed you.”
Cadence tried to retort, but her mouth won’t open. “Right, you may speak,” Zil commanded.
“No.” Was Cadence’s answer.
Zil blinked a bit surprised by the answer. “No? Really? Can you even imagine what’s going to happen to you?”
“I can guess,” Cadence answered with resolve. “But nonetheless, as long as I’m alive, I still have a future worth hoping for.”
“Ugh, my gods! That’s so cheesy I think I clogged an artery!” Zil snickered. “Did you hear her Cien?”
“I did,” Cien replied while tossing out several dresses. “Don’t put too much stock in her words. Plenty said similar things before, and they were always the first to break. Now, what goes better with pink? Blue or black?”
“Black, of course. Ugh, I almost feel sorry for the brother that gets to rut her. That shade of pink! Her tri-colored fuck up of a mane. It’s all so unfaltering!”
Cadence glared and mumbled what was most likely a curse at them through her muzzled mouth.
“She is kind of feisty,” Cien comments, walking over with a dress. It was a black gown like thing with gold accents. “Do you want to dye her hair? Gold, purple, and pink, gods what a sin against nature. Just bad genes all around.”
“Yeah, what color, though?” Zil pondered. “Also, I’ve been curious, shouldn’t her mane be all floaty?”
“Floaty?”
“Yeah, floaty like in dad’s stories about the Princesses? He says their hair is made of ethereal and floats.
The two sisters look beside themselves remembering their father’s ravings that counted at their bedtime stories. They cocked their head as they observed Cadence with a critical eye.
“Hmm, maybe it’s an age thing? Like maybe she’s too young to have the floating hair.” Cien offered for an explanation.
“Maybe… ah dammit. We’re running behind! Get her dressed. Dad’s holding a war council. And yes, you have to come.”
“Dammit, I was about to start writing my next book! I have the perfect heroine as a reference too.” Cien pouted, but really, she was just playing her best card against her sister as Zil’s expression went from stern to anxious.
“Your next book…” The eldest daughter trailed off. “Who’s the main character?”
“This girl Ombre captured, Twilight Sparkle.”
Zil blinked, and Cadence went rigged. “Twilight Sparkle.” The eldest daughter repeated. “Are you serious, Sparkle is your last name in Equestrian!”
“I know, right? Crazy, which makes it all the more fun. I should check on her, see if she’s broken down and gave it up to the Rinin I locked her in with. It’s been an hour or more now, I think. Better get this one fitted first.”
“You’re still coming to the meeting.”
Cien sighed, “Really? You won’t let me skip, even for a preview?”
“No, this is too important. Now get Cadence dressed.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll have to check on my pets later. Gods this sucks.” Stuffing Cadence into her chosen dress the second daughter of Sombra pierced the Princess of Love’s ears and tied her mane back. “There a ponytail suits you better. You’re still drab, but better than before. Now come on, let’s go.”
At Cien’s behest Cadence unwilfully followed the dark princess into the hall. Bound and demeaned like her Sister in law before her.
(Twilight, please be alright!)
In the throne room, Sombra resumed his command. A gaggle of reports was hastily presented to him in a disorderly fashion that brought the place to chaos. Only after a firm bark of his displeased tone did his soldiers organize into a proper line and present their reports.
First, the gate. The enemy had performed a hit and run with their new weapon and sped off, forces were searching for metal war machine in the western part of the city, but he loath to put too many resources on the hunt for one enemy war machine. He decreed a small task force will hunt for the metal vehicle and sent out a request for one of his sons to end the machine’s nuisance.
Now the frontlines. With Ombre back in the rear morale had taken a huge hit, but Schatten was there to take control…
“Lord Schatten returns!” A messenger shouted. An awkward silence filled the room as Schatten entered and took his place next to his siblings. Disposing an unconscious mare before Cien. His fourth son had the good sense to appear bashful by his untimely arrival. Sombra did not rise in anger, though.
“Schatten, if you would inform us of the status of the front?”
“Yes, father, of course. When I arrived, an enemy rinin was using enhanced Haste magic to penetrate our shield and wreak havoc on our defensive lines. He is the same one that took Ombre’s leg.”
“We’re you able to defeat him?” He inquired of his son.
“Subdued. Lord Ombre’s injuries are grave. I would have finished him off, but we were in between our two armies and his allies were closing in. On top of that this mare I dragged before you unpresentable showed a rather unique power that you might find of interest.”
Sombra nodded, finding his son’s actions excusable. “That still leaves our frontlines without a General. Find Scath and have him take command. Where is his last reported location?”
“My lord, Lord Scath, was last reported to be heading toward the southwest. An enemy unit has started a bold battle near the location of our destroyed base. We believe they are the saboteurs behind that attack.”
Yes, the attack on one of their rear bases. That was a huge blow. “Once Scath finishes off the enemy unit have him report here with the enemy commander if possible. Schatten you are resume command of the front. Leave now, I will have your mare processed. Cien you are excused. Go make her presentable and bring her back once she is processed.”
“At once, father.” Both of his children reply.
“To the forward lines, hold off using our magic cannons until given the order. Schatten I expect your judgment to be sound in this matter. Now all of you return to your posts.” The room cleared quickly, leaving only him and a select few. “Zil.”
His eldest daughter nodded, “Move and bow before your King.”
Cadence with great reluctance walked before the throne, her movements stiff as stone, her teeth bared in a definite grimace while her eye burned with a rebellious fire. Her ridged posture was proof of her power as she fought against her bonds. The restraints sparking heavily with magic as they fought against the princess’s raw power. Sombra was impressed by the display. He would be more impressed if she could have actually ignored the command.
“Lick the floor and tell me it tastes good.” He ordered with a devious smirk. Much to his and everypony else amusement Cadence stuck her tongue out and licked the red carpet, her face distorting in disgust.
“It tastes delicious. The grime especially delectable.”
It was always essential to test the command device with something outrageous. Even the most skilled spy would be hard pressed to prove his loyalty on the spot when given such a command. They would hesitate subconsciously, having to fortify their physique, before performing the act in question. No pony could just lick the floor without hesitation, solid proof the control collar was working. Also, he just found it fun. His agents would already be spreading the propaganda to the army about the Princess that licked the floor upon his command, thus hopefully improving their morale.
“I’m glad you find it to your tastes Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Tell me how you came to be here? How old are you?”
Cadence blinked in confusion, her bonds compelling her to speak regardless, “I’m twenty-two. I was raised by two earth ponies in a village, my mother apparently leaving me to them before her death, that’s what Princess Luna speculates. Time travel might have been involved.”
If it wasn’t for the fact, he knew Cadence couldn’t lie to him, Sombra would have punished her for such an outrageous story. “Interesting. Tell me about the unit attacking our city.”
Cadence visibly resisted, biting her inner cheek to keep from spilling her guts. Sombra was impressed as blood trickled out of the Princess’s lips, but her resistance was once again futile as she blurted out the answer.
“It’s most likely the rest of my escorts. Led most likely by my husband Prince Shining Armor, Former Captain of the Royal guard. Without myself or Sweet Dreams, he most likely took up command. He’s probably causing a distraction so the VIPs can escape.”
“And who are these VIPs?”
“Three Bearers of the Elements of harmony, they are all honorary noble mares, their names are Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.”
(The elements of Harmony? Oh yes, those old relics. I shouldn’t need to fear them. If I were using my old tricks, it would be a different story. Brainwashing is reversible magic, but pure natural loyalty? Well, the elements don’t usually mess with a ponies’ free will.) Not that Sombra really knew that much about the items, just that they were a counter to dark magic, and putting Discord back into his prison.
(Wait a second…)
“What were those names again?”
“Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy,” Cadence repeated robotically.
Sombra tapped his chin in deep thought, “Applejack, Applejack, that name sounds familiar… Ah! Yes! She was one of Luna’s guards at that time. The unremarkable one, the earth mare, yes! I remember now. Luna had a particular fondness for her. I order you, cast the image of the mare Applejack.” Once again, Cadence does as she is told, projecting Applejack’s imagine for the King to see. “Good, make a note of this mare, I want her alive. She will be a great tool to use against Princess Luna.”
“I shall put the order out.” One of the maids replied, leaving the room.
“I am done with the Princess, for now. Zil, take her to one of the luxury prisons.”
“If I may delegate that task father, I wish to speak words with you.” Zil requested.
Sombra pondered a moment before nodding to another one of the maids. “Take her. The rest of you leave us.”
“Thank you, father,” Zil curtseyed, moving directly in front of the throne. This was to be a business matter Sombra mused, he had thought she would want to discuss the ownership of the Princess.
“You may speak your mind, daughter.” He declared.
Zil took a deep breath, visibly shaking with emotion, it was odd to see his eldest daughter so worked up. “Father, I think we are far too casual in this war. Ombre is out of action his foolishness for tail chasing interfering with his duties, you have Erebus on some secret mission that only you know about, and Schatten while not as bad as Ombre, is indulging in the same foolish behavior as Ombre. Only Scath seems to be taking this seriously, well for how serious Scath can be.”
“I hear your concerns, but what is your goal for bringing this up? I have tightened the reins on your brothers already.”
“I would like you to think with an open mind as I say this, but I think you should allow myself and my sisters to take part in the battle. We are as skilled in combat as our brothers, my capture of Princess Cadence proof of that.”
Sombra kept his mouth tight, “You have your roles. You are to support from the rear where it is safe.”
“Father I appreciate your concern for my sisters and me, but you must realize that with Erebus tied up in your plans, and Ombre resting, Scath and Schatten can’t be expected to hold the lines once the Princesses show up.”
“You speak too harshly of your brothers. They are a match for the Princesses. Provided they aren’t distracted.” He chuckled, trying to reassure his worrywart of a daughter.
This time Zil held her tone, her face visibly distorting as she fought back her words. “I know they are, but we don’t know how many ponies there are like the one that disabled Ombre. They could wear them down and allow the Princesses to kill them. They are your sons and my brothers; I do not wish to seem them fall to the enemy. Even if it’s just me or better yet send Skaggi, she’s more powerful than Cien.”
“NO!”
Zil flinched at her father’s harsh tone, he eyes burning with genuine anger. “I…”
“I will not send Skaggi! I will not allow even the slightest chance of my youngest child entering the battlefield!”
“I overstepped myself, but you can’t deny how powerful she is! She’s even…”
Sombra pounded his hoof against the throne, Zil tensed as her father roared. “I said NO! This matter is over!”
Reluctantly Zil bowed her head, her breathing uneven with fear and anger. “I understand. I apologize. Let the matter of Skaggi drop, but at least consider allowing me to share some of my brothers’ burden. I am competent.”
His anger sizzled out. Sombra took a moment to regain his composure but was still rattled by his daughter’s suggestion. For a full minute, he fought against his emotion, going over her points and ideas with a calm, logical mind that a ruler must possess.
“I will consider your proposal. I would rather you trust in me and my plan with Erebus, but should another of your brothers be rendered incapacitated… you may take his place.”
“Thank you, father, you are generous and wise.”
He waved her off, still shaken by his uncontrolled outburst. “Go rest, for now, so you may have the strength to fill in. Princess Cadence, while not as impressive as Celestia or Luna, was still a match for you. Don’t let your victory over her make you arrogant to think you can match Celestia and Luna.”
“I will thank you for your concern.”
As she left Sombra slouched in his throne and looked up at the black marbled ceiling. (Of course, I’m concerned, my children. How pathetic can one be when they must send their children to fight for them?)
When he started his grand plan, he had tried, tried to stay emotionally detached from his children. He even separated them from their mothers and never laid with them again to keep from growing soft, for both him and his children. That plan backfired. He ended up spending a lot of time with them, teaching them, raising them, it was only natural his fatherly instincts blossomed.
(Next thing I knew I was reading bedtime stories, fussing over colds, my original plan to have them be powerful disposable soldiers was dashed away. Now… now… they are my children, my heirs, the ones who will carry on my line and ideals. That is why we’ll win this war, Celestia. Because I have experienced the one thing you haven’t in this world. Aging and realization that life is finite. What’s the point of building an empire when I waste my life to make it and have it wash away with my death?)
He knew about both Celestia’s and Luna’s many children over the centuries. By his own logic, they should understand what he does, but Sombra was competent; their long existence was their real weakness. It was their long lives, the fact they have sworn off having children since becoming Princesses, and the wear of time making them forget that powerful truth. The truth that when you have so little time to live, you make the most of it.
The Princesses were the embodiment of stagnation. That is why his children could, no would surpass them. Because they were moving forward, looking to the future. Zil’s comments were a testament to that. He was proud of her for her forward thinking, even if he had a hard time accepting it.
(Still… I wish she wouldn’t have brought up Skaggi. I don’t like to play favorites, but as my youngest, she holds my heart. Besides that, Skaggi is dangerous, so dangerous that even if the enemy broke through and reached the castle, I would still be reluctant to call upon her. Because once I do…) He shivered praying that time never came. Sombra laughed despite himself.
“All that power in one lanky little teenager, how ironic.”
“Ok Miss Batty Bat, you go here!” The chipper high pitched voice of her capturer said. Sweet Dreams had no idea what the hell was going on, only that she was bound with magical devices that inhibited everything from her magic to her movements to even her own power to speak. She felt completely naked without her armor, which had been stripped away by the two maids standing politely away from their charge. A young mare, barely maybe fourteen to sixteen? It was hard to tell because she acted so childish.
The young mare, Skaggi, bounced excitedly around her room. She wore a white and blue cape, the hood down showed off her white-blue crystalized hair that shimmered like snowflakes in the light. It was her eyes that really had Sweet Dreams on edge. They shined like blood rubies with traces of white swirling around the red irises. A persistent cold mist escaped from her mouth.
“We’re going to be the best, best, best of friends!” Skaggi declared rubbing against her. If Sweet Dream had been in the position to, she would have cried out and shrunk away from the kid affectionally rubbing against her.
(Sweet fucking Celestia’s frozen teets! This girl is a fucking iceberg! How can somepony be so cold and still be alive?)
“Young mistress,” One the maid mares said, it was the one the right side of the door. She had a strangely similar color scheme to Skaggi. Skaggi ignored her, though.
The purple mare beside her sighed smiling sympathetically at her. “Mistress Skaggi.”
“Yes, Auntie Gleam?”
Gleam frowned, “You know you're not supposed to call me that, Skaggi. Please be considerate to Tundra as well, she is your primary maid, miss.”
Skaggi pouted, “But you are my Auntie, your Cien’s mama, right?”
“Hahaha, yes well…” Gleam laughed nervously. “That’s our little secret. You remember what I told you about keeping secrets, right?”
Skaggi nodded cutely, but then glared at Tundra who looked away. From her position, Sweet Dreams could see the blue maid was sad. Naturally, she could deduce the obvious.
“Well, um… what do you want to dress your…um… new doll as?” Gleam suggested powering through the stifling atmosphere. It was with that one sentence that Sweet Dream grew a passionate disliking to the purple maid Gleam.
(Don’t use me as a scapegoat bitch!)
“Hmm, I don’t know…” Skaggi pondered humming in that sickly-sweet child voice. “I know!” She declared. “Princess! I want to make her a Princess! We can be two princesses having a tea party!”
Gleam clapped. “Oh, a wonderful choice. I will fetch the tea; do you want any snacks to go with that?”
“Yes, please!”
“I will prepare some cake and cookies. Meanwhile, Tundra will help you dress her.” Skaggi’s smile took a downturn. “Please Skaggi? Tundra is… well, she’s not as cold-hearted as she seems. Unless you want her to make the food?” Sombra’s youngest daughter made a terror-stricken face, hastily shaking her head. “Good choice, my lady, I will be back.”
“My cooking isn’t that bad,” Tundra grumbled under breath as Gleam left. “Alright, little snow pixie, why style dress, you want?”
Skaggi puffed her cheeks, turning away from Tundra, “I ordered you not to call me that anymore.”
“Yes, yes, I forgot, I’m sorry. So, about the dress?”
“Something blue, sparkly, and pretty.”
“Snow Queen?”
“Snow Queen,” Skaggi affirmed.
“Alright, I’ll go talk to Lady Cien. Do you wish for her to join your tea party?”
Skaggi nodded.
“I’ll be back.”
Now it was just her and Sweet Dreams, and Sweet Dreams wasn’t thrilled to be stuck in the room with this child. “She’s my mom.” Skaggi suddenly said. “Tundra. Auntie Gleam told me. All our personal maids are our moms, but I’m the only one that knows. At least I think so, my siblings are all smarter them me, so I find it hard that they don’t know. I think they do; they just pretend they don’t know for Dad’s sake. I don’t understand it. But Tundra…” Skaggi shook with anger. “I called her out, but she refuses to acknowledge me, but she doesn’t deny it. I wish she could be more like Auntie Gleam.”
(Oh, sweet gods, I’m going to be this child’s personal griper, aren’t I? Please don’t ask me for an answer!)
“What do you think of this? Answer me.”
(Son of a bitch!) Sweet Dreams wanted to curse Skaggi out but found she couldn’t, seemed she could only speak words relevant to the child’s question.
“Well, it’s kind of messed up. Makes me appreciate my parents more, they were traditionalists, so I was raised in a cave, but most bat ponies were like that. Would have been nice to see the outside world more. That’s why I joined the military.”
Skaggi cocked her head sliding on her rump with a transfixed gaze. “What’s the outside world like? Tell me.”
“It’s wonderful. There large green forests, vast deserts, wide oceans that stretch on forever. My… ahh… friend Goodnight, he got to go to another country with Princess Luna, called Nippon. I can’t really describe it, but he made it sound like an awesome place. They had hot springs, trees with pink petals, and they knew how to have fun. They practice Tankery as a sport over there, it sounds awesome.”
“What’s a tank?”
“It’s a kind of military machine, a self-propelled armored cannon is the best I can describe it.”
The more she talked, the more Skaggi questioned her. Weirdly, it was fun, the white/blue unicorn gazed at her with childlike wonder that was rather endearing. Before Sweet Dreams knew it, the tea and cookies arrived, but she didn’t get to enjoy them, at least not before being stuffed into the most exquisite dress she’ll probably ever wear. It was soft, silky, and clearly expensive. She hadn’t expected that.
“Join us Auntie Gleam!” Skaggi begged. “Listen to all the things Miss Batty Bat knows about.
(I guess that’s my new name.) Sweet Dream mentally sighed as Gleam joined them at the table.
“If you wish, is it ok if Tundra joins in as well?”
Skaggi looked crossly at her mother and turned up her nose. “If she wants.”
The tension could be cut with a knife, but Tundra did join them. “Don’t chew with your mouth open.” She chided Skaggi while levitating a napkin over to clean the young princess’s face.
Taking in the bizarre scene, Sweet Dreams sipped her tea, Skaggi’s command only letting her sip daintily like a refined Princess. She couldn’t even complain the tea was too hot or request sugar. She could only sip and burn her tongue without being able to react or complain.
(I honestly wish I could have just been thrown in a jail cell.)
“Hey, Princess Batty Bats!”
“Yes?” She replied in an upper-crust accent, similar to one the mares of Canterlot spoke in. She heard it a million times while on guard duty. She didn’t know why she was using it now, except to maybe fulfill her role as ‘princess.’ It sounded unnatural coming out of her lips. Sweet Dreams could barely stand her own voice.
“When Daddy wins this war, will you show me all the wonderful places you told me about?”
Sweet Dreams trembled as she tried to force out her real thoughts. Wanting to so badly declare it was her friends who would win the war.
“Speak freely,” Skaggi ordered. “Tell me how you really feel.”
(Will she get mad? Does she really want to hear the truth? She’s the enemy, but she’s a child! I can’t… I can’t actually hate her.)
“It would be nice if the chance arises.” She replied in that same noble tone she hated, but her words were her own. “What would you like to see first?”
Skaggi babbled excitedly, Gleam and Tundra smiling happily across the table, while Sweet Dream was left to wallow in her guilt. Feeling she’s betrayed everypony. Her friends were fighting, dying, trying to get to her and the others, and she was sitting at a table playing pretend with the enemy’s daughter.
(I’m sorry. If only I were stronger.) She wanted to cry, but couldn’t, she couldn’t do anything. After all the training and trust given to her, taking on the role of commando, this is what she was reduced too.
A child’s doll.
“Ugh another one,” Cien said snidely as she roughly dropped Daring on the bed. Mindlessly she began attaching the control collars and leg bands, the task losing some of its allure after performing it for the third time today. “Let’s get rid of that drab uniform and this utility crap.”
With little regard for Daring’s effects, Cien cut the rogue wonder out of her flight suit and armor, tossing shredded material into the trash pile. Next came the straps of the saddlebags, the bag discarded with the rest. She locked the leg bands in place, activating the suppression spells when something hit the floor behind her.
Curious Cien turned around, the discarded saddlebag was upside down with the lid propped open, on the floor were two jewels. A Purple and a black. Her eyes were transfixed by the gems she strode over to them, her eye dancing between the mysterious rocks. The purple one held her attention as if calling out to her. As she kneeled down for a closer look, she spotted magic suppression runes on the inside of the saddlebag.
“Why would you need something like this inside of a bag?” Setting the bag on the floor Cien levitated the purple gem off the ground, a sudden surge of power filled her, and the desire to put the jewel on became overwhelming!
“NO!” A tan blur breezed past, taking both gems with it. It was the mare she was supposed to be processing.
(How stupid of me, getting distracted like that.) Cien seethed. She was a bit shaken up, if the mare had been thinking clearly, she could have attacked from behind, yet she prioritized the gems. Daring hastily shoved the jewels into the pack and snapped the lock shut with a frantic and scared look. (Those little trinkets must be something interesting then.)
“Stand still,” Cien commanded, but suddenly realized she hadn’t programmed the command collar yet! “Shit.”
“Hiya!”
The pegasus was on her, attacking like a savage brute, wailing away with her bare hooves. Cien fumed with anger, her horn aglow with power as she grabbed the mare by all four limbs and glued her to the ceiling. She looked in her mirror, her hair was a mess, and her lip was bleeding. Her entire body shook, and she slammed Daring to the floor.
“If not for the fact my brother is going to put you eight ways to Sunday in every way soon, I would be inclined to kill you, but that would be an easy death for messing up my hair.” With a gleeful grin, Cien activated the command collar, the black band glowing a soft purple. “Stop breathing until you’re ready to tell me about those gems, please.”
Daring tried to breathe, to refuse the command, but her lungs fought against her, refusing to function. She wheezed for air, pounding the floor, trying to breathe. The eyes of her tormentor gleamed with sinister happiness as her vision began to blacken.
“Come now, all you have to do is spill the beans as the commoners say. Oh, I suppose that’s hard to do when you can’t breathe. Quite the catch twenty-two. Well, I guess when I think you suffered enough, I’ll let you breathe again. Maybe after a little brain damage.”
Daring gasped like a fish out of water, reaching out with her foreleg, wondering if her guardian angel would step in. It was hard to say, but she was running out of time.
“They’re Ali…” She eeped and then blacked out.
Equestrian FOB
“How’s he doing?”
“His condition is stable, the same as the last time you asked an hour ago, Captain Fleetfoot. I have other patients to tend too. Please only call me if his condition destabilizes.”
“How will I know that?”
“If he starts spitting up blood or anything abnormal like that. Trust me, I’ve been a field medic for ten years.” Doctor Blue Cross stated, as a matter of fact, patting the pegasus captain on the shoulder before leaving the tent. Muttering, “Jeez, you’d think they were married or something the way she’s fretting.”
Having not heard the doctor’s gripe Fleetfoot gave her undivided attention to the pony laying on the bedroll. The pony that saved her life, Vice Commander Gloves. For the last few hours, she had remained by his side, her own condition minor compared to his, but the doctor still told her to stay in the base rather than return to battle. So, she broke a few ribs with realizing it, her leg was sprained, and her left wing was possibly cracked. It’s not like she’s unconscious like Gloves is. When she fretted about how long the blue rinin was sleeping, the Doctor’s response was Quote, “He used a lot of magic, of course, he’s going to sleep! Just be glad he doesn’t have a concussion.”
“Ha-ha, what am I doing here?” She laughed nervously while running her hoof through her frizzled mane, a sudden want to have long silky hair crept into her mind as she watched Glove’s soft slumbering snores. “Probably just feeling… off… because he saved my life. It’s only natural, don’t get too worked about up about it. This is a war zone remember.” Fleetfoot told herself. This really wasn’t the place to get all lovey-dovey.
Still, she was grateful to the Rinin. Even if he was just doing his duty as a fellow soldier, she appreciated the lengths he went through to save her and others lives. Which is why she wanted to do all she could for him. Revealing that demonic looking leg couldn’t have been easy for him. Even now the red leg (or is an arm? It has a dragon’s claw.) glowed with a menacing aura. It was easy to speculate that even with his good looks, that red leg made it hard to get with the ladies.
Since the doctor placed them in this tent, she was assigned nursing duty to free up the actual nurses, Fleetfoot as taken to staring at the red limb off and on. Since Gloves showed no signs of waking and there were no alerts of enemy attacks, and no pony was poking their head in the tent flap. Fleetfoot scooted around to the other side of the bedroll. After one more nervous glance at the entryway, she reached out and touched the red leg, expecting the appendage to be scathing hot since it looked like lava rock.
It was warm, but not the burning to the touch she had been expecting. It was pleasant, actually. She began to run her hoof along the rough surface of the appendage. Fascinated by it.
“Cool…”
“Hey you awake, Gloves?”
Fleetfoot instantly removed her hoof when the owner of the gruff voice popped his head inside the tent. It was Bulwark and his wife Platinum. She knew it was rude to stare at the odd couple, but really how could she not? The size differences. It was like a mountain dating a small rolling hill. (I’m actually finding that more appealing the more I think about it.)
“No,” She shushed the large rinin, keeping a polite tone because he did help save her life too.
“Oh, sorry, are you free Captain? The other officers on base wanted to discuss a plan to help the main force.”
As much as she didn’t want to leave the tent, duty called. “Yes, I’m free, but I’d like to stay near the tent. To keep an eye on Gloves, in case his condition worsened, the doctors are very busy, you know.”
“Hey Gloves is our friend too; I’ll get a table set up. I’ll leave you ladies to chat in the meantime.” He and Platinum exchanged kisses, very unprofessional given the setting, but even as a superior officer, there was no way in hell Fleetfoot was going to say anything. Bulwark was on their side, but he was still scary, even to her.
“Sorry about that, he gets mushy after we face danger. Stoic really suits him better, but I like it when he shows me his buttery soft side.” Platinum smiled.
Fleetfoot didn’t think she could do the same after going through what Platinum did just a few hours ago. So instead of bringing it up, she returned the smile and followed the unicorn outside where an open tent with a table inside was set up. Bulwark returned, sticking his head inside while she and Platinum stood at the edge of the table looking over the laid-out map.
“Where’s Applejazz?” Platinum inquired.
“Making repairs to her equipment, she said to go on without her.”
The map, imbued with a spell, showed their forces current positions and what they knew of the enemy’s formation. There was a lot of unknown on the enemy’s side, and even worse, only Spitfire was registered on the enchanted piece of paper as the only active officer. Both Night Patrollers looked concerned as they scowled over the map for Topaz’s name.
Platinum put on her helmet, fanatically tapping the gemcom for several tense seconds before sighing. “I don’t see a message reporting his death, let me…” Platinum touched the gemcom again. Fleetfoot watched as the map changed with a time stamp of one hour ago. Topaz’s name appeared on the map, and they watched as it made a beeline for the enemy lines breaking through the defense lines and then faded away. The message signal jammed appearing.
“That’s surprisingly reckless of Topaz, going beyond enemy lines with no backup or what looks like any semblance of a plan. Something must have happened.”
Fleetfoot could only nod in agreement. She didn’t know Topaz like the other two did, but their scant interactions lead her to believe he was one of the more logical types of ponies. “So, what’s the difference between the signal loss and the death signal? I mean not to sound stupid, but they are very similar.”
Bulwark snorted in agreement. “I can’t blame you. We’ve had trouble with this kind of thing in the past. Going by the manual definition signal lost just means the gemcom network can’t track the owners gemcom, but the user is reported to be still alive. Death signal is when the gemcom is cut off and no longer detects body functions.” Bulwark explained, looking guff. “It is confusing, though. We’ll have to make that clearer for the future. The important difference is lost signal or jammed usually means the owner is potentially alive. I’m certain once we breach the enemy’s shield the network will reconnect.”
“As worried as I am for Topaz, bringing down the enemy’s shield is more important right now. Colonel Spitfire is barely holding our advance together right now. My own estimates say the enemy’s magic artillery cannons should be charged up again, putting our ships in danger.” Platinum pointed at the enemy line running the tip of her toe across the map. “Our scouts report that even in these area’s outside the shield’s protection zone, the enemy has a solid line of defense. We lost dozens of pegasi just to get that much. Their Anti-air defenses are solid.”
Fleetfoot nodded while pointing to the very edges of the city. “If we move a large number of troops to attack the city’s flanks they're sure to respond and fortify their positions. One of our biggest problems is we’d have to use all our current reserves, it would be an all-in maneuver, we’d either have to breach the city or retreat.”
“Retreat might not be possible if we get there far. The ships are tied up, and we’d never be able to load every pony aboard in time. Even if we took heavy losses. Our second biggest problem is the fact we don’t have any high-level fighters left. Gloves, Trifecta, Fierce Fury are all MIA. Not to cut short AppleJazz, but she’s not equipped to take on ponies like that Ombre, neither are you I’m afraid honey.”
Bulwark grumbled at his wife’s stinging statement, “If it were pure brute strength perhaps.” He griped, dissatisfied with his lack of talent for magic. Platinum patted his shoulder.
“There, there, we all have to work with what we got.”
A massive explosion, followed by a torrent of radio static caught the three Equestrian officers off guard. Together they all ran for the top of the wall, marveling at the drastic change in the battlefield terrain. A large trench scarred the surface area in front of the enemy shields. One of the airships smoked heavily as it limped away from the battle. The three of them grimaced as they caught sight of fire bursting out the side of the haul where the engine was.
It was only a matter of time before the ship sank from the sky.
“What happened?” Fleetfoot wondered aloud using her binoculars to get a better look. On the flagship, she saw Spitfire in a frenzy as she ordered ponies around. A shadow flew over the deck of the ship, Fleetfoot barely managed to track it and gulped loudly when she got a look at the cause of the panic. “Son of a bitch! Another one!”
Bulwark and Platinum didn’t even need to ask. Another son of Sombra has joined the fray.
“What can you make of him?” Bulwark asked anxiously while gripping his hammer for assurance.
“He’s as big as Ombre, maybe bigger, and is using a HUGE ass sword! The thing is as big as him! Could almost be mistaken for the anchor of a ship.”
He snarled, his grip tightening. “Damn, and he can fly. I’m useless here. Nothing but a big dumb pony with a hammer.”
“Darling…”
“Don’t, we all must know our limits,” Bulwark growled dejectedly, planting his hammer into the top of the wall. “I wish I could do more.”
A voice spoke from behind them. “In that case, mind if I borrow this?” Bulwark and the two mares could barely register the familiar voice before Bulwark’s massive one-ton hammer was levitated off the ground and carried into the sky by a golden aura. All three of them and those below in the base cheered as Celestia and Luna flew over the skyline towards the frontlines. The officers turned and looked down to see ranks of unicorns joining their forces.
The third wave had arrived at last.
“Are you ready for this sister?” Luna jovially asked while readying her star blades.
Celestia tested the weigh of the hammer in her magic, getting a feel for the weapon. “Yes, dear sister.” She embedded the weapon with magic, gold fire danced on the edge of the blunt weapon matching her blazing gold mane. “I am.”